How to convince a friend who is going through a bipolar disorder but does not want to see a counsellor or doctor but at the same time thinking of just taking anti depressant medication?

Dr. Chayanika SarmaPsychiatrist10yrs exp

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It is injurious to self medicate, as the medication may have harmful effects if taken without proper knowledge of the medicine. So discourage your friend from taking antidepressant medicines without consulting a doctor. Your friend’s diagnosis should be confirmed first regarding whether suffering from Bipolar Disorder or some other condition. For that you should get your friend evaluated by a Psychiatrist, who will do detailed mental status evaluation & physical examination, & then make the diagnosis. Then will prescribe medication &/or advice counseling sessions accordingly. Prior to that, you will have to convince your friend that he or she needs professional help. The duration of treatment of many of the psychiatric illnesses is usually long & patient requires continued regular treatment. If the patient or care givers do not have awareness of the illness either because of the many prevalent myths or because of lack of adequate knowledge regarding the illness, then they will not cooperate with treatment, or will not adhere to treatment. This will lead to treatment failure. So first, you have to make your friend aware of the problem he or she is suffering from. So note down the symptoms you are observing in your friend, discuss those with your friend, also inform his or her guardian & encourage him or her to go for treatment. Assure your friend that with treatment will get relief of the illness. If your friend is not willing to come out for treatment, then discuss the problem with his or her family, so that the family or guardian takes the initiative to take your friend for treatment. Many a times it is seen that patient do not have insight or awareness regarding their illness & refuse to go for treatment. Because of underlying illness patient fails to take proper decision. At such a situation, family members or those close to the patient should take them for treatment. At times even medicines have to be given mixed in the patient’s food & drinks without their knowledge, till the symptoms come under control & patient develop awareness regarding their illness, & take medicines themselves. Put your effort; seek professional help at the earliest, so that your friend gets well soon.  

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Ms. Rachna MishraPsychologist5yrs exp

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Hello Lybrate User. Helping someone with bipolar can be challenging because understanding the symptoms of bipolar and helping someone else notice the changes in themselves is a delicate endeavor: Come from a place of love. If you are sure that you want to undertake this task consider the best method to receive the best results. The approach you take to the situation will influence everything that follows. Blurting out “You’re bipolar!” at Thanksgiving is not going to be well received and will only lessen your credibility in the future. Maintaining a strong relationship will enable your message to be accepted. Watch for symptoms. If you have been noticing troubling signs and symptoms, write them down. Gathering a base of information will assist you in presenting a compelling case later. Look for changes in mood, energy levels, sleep, decision-making, risk taking and track what you see. Know the criteria. Often, people have misconceptions about what bipolar disorder is and how it operates. Someone being happy one minute and sad the next does not mean they have bipolar disorder. Generally, bipolar disorder means that someone has met the criteria for a manic episode as well as a depressive episode. A manic episode is a week-long period where someone has symptoms including decreased need for sleep, increased energy, inflated self-esteem and increase in risky behavior. A depressive episode is a two week period of low mood, low energy, sleep/ appetite changes and other symptoms. Someone with bipolar tends to switch between depressive and manic episodes with periods of calm in between. Encourage treatment. Do you hold an advanced degree in counseling or psychiatry? If the answer is no, leave the therapy to the professionals. The best advice you can give your loved one is to seek out treatment. People with bipolar disorder typically benefit from a combination of medication and therapy. Tell them your concerns and how you think treatment would benefit them. Let them know you care and would be willing to attend appointments to increase their comfort. If they disagree, give them space. Therapy only works on the willing. Thank you.  

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